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Rangers Sign Day to Entry-Level Contract

The New York Rangers have signed 2016 third-round pick Sean Day to an entry-level contract, according to Cap Friendly.

Day, a 19-year-old defenseman, has had an inconsistent but nonetheless intriguing post-draft season in the Ontario Hockey League. Day started out the season hot offensively, with 11 goals and 14 assists in his first 32 games. He’s since been cold, however, with just three goals and three assists in his last 25 games. Nonetheless, he has shown notable growth in the entire makeup of his game this season. Day has always had an elite skill-set, but the cerebral side of the game has prevented him from acting on it. A mental reset this season, aided by a trade to the Windsor Spitfires, has helped him develop his game and look a lot more like the player scouts thought he could become when he was hyped as a 15-year-old prodigy. His skating is still as good as you’ll find for a defenseman his size. His passing has improved. He’s made better use of his booming shot. His defensive zone coverage still needs work, but has gotten better.

As I said in my August evaluation, Day has the tools that could theoretically put him on par with a player like Drew Doughty. He has a lot of growing to do as a defenseman if he is to ever get anywhere close to that level, but Day has undoubtedly taken productive strides the last eight months. Because he is completing his fourth OHL season, Day would be able to play in the AHL in 2017-2018. This is certainly part of why the Rangers have signed him. Look for him to compete for a job in Hartford next training camp.

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